Frenchboro Island Charters
We offer 2 trips daily a 7:30 AM cruise or a 10:00 AM cruise to the Island. We depart the island at 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM!
Trip details
We offer 2 trips daily a 7:30 AM cruise or a 10:00 AM cruise to the Island. We depart the island at 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM . During our boat trip to Maine's smallest community, we will pass several other islands on our way. Besides the beauty of neighboring islands and the sea itself, you may see harbor porpoises, seals, and eagles. Our charter also includes a lobster trap demonstration with Captain Brett who has a wealth of knowledge. You will then disembark the vessel to explore Frenchboro. Pack a lunch or eat at our only retail establishment, Lunt's Deli. Explore 12 miles of hiking trails that hug the rockbound shore. We also have a historical museum, library and gift shop. Trail maps are located behind the museum . Our Island does offer free public restrooms located at our one room school house. We can take up to six passengers per trip! We also offer custom charters to cater to your schedule . The cost is $400.00 per five hour trip , up to 6 guests! We also offer sunset cruises, light house tours, lobster trap hauling demonstrations, fall foliage tours and water taxi service.
About The Island
Frenchboro (Long Island) is 8 miles south of Bass Harbor.. The furthest East North East unbridged year round island community in the United States. The year round population is around 27 residents and swells to about 75 with the summer residents. The island was settled in the 1820's by William Rich on a very remote part of the island: Rich's Head. The family farmed, fished for cod, and cut timber. If you hike out to to Rich's head you can imagine the rigors of Island life in the 1800's By the 1890s the population of the island peaked to 200 year round residents; most involved in fishing and timber harvesting. As the cod fishing boom slowly subsided , so did the population of the island. In the early and mid times of the 1900's lobsters were not a valuable resource, so abundant the prisoners in Maine State Prison actually protested how often they were being fed lobsters. Lobster fishing was a poor mans fishery, it didn't take much skill to set a lobster trap. The island was losing people at such a rate the State of Maine helped build seven cape style homes to attract families to move here and lobster fish. In fear the school would shut down, then we would loose our 3 day a week state ferry. The 2020 census of Frenchboro reported a year round population of 29. Frenchboro has always been very hard for travelers to access due to the very limited ferry schedule, only 2 round trip runs per month! The yacht crowd has always enjoyed the peace and beauty of Frenchboro as they have access to anchorage in the outer harbor. In the year 2000, Maine Coast Heritage Trust purchased over 1000 acres of land, even the Rockefeller's raised money to purchase the preserve. We have a little over 1 mile of pave road, yet over 12 miles of hiking trails!
About Us
We moved to the island in 2017 as climate change started to affect the lobster fishery in southern Maine. The catch in Downeast Maine remained stable, yet as every year passes we see the affects of climate change on the fisheries: invasive species and now even blue crabs!
Capt. Brett has had his USCG 100T Masters license since 2001. He started lobster fishing in the early 90's and that lead to many other fishing adventures such as ground fishing, tuna, and sea Urchin harvesting. Brett has also work as a Merchant marine on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico working on coastal tugs and running crew and supply boats in the oil field. Sarah ( his better half) has a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing and has been an RN for almost 30 years. Its not uncommon to get a knock on our door in the night with a medical emergency for Sarah to attend to as a voluntary service. Sarah has also cared for elderly residents of the island and now travels to her job in Bangor for three days a week. You may see her on your trip which would work in your favor because of her eclectic taste in music which she loves to play over the boat's speakers.